2002 Ford Escape vs 2002 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Escape | 2002 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,027 | 3,294 |
| Recall campaigns | 8 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 109 | 258 |
| Investigations | 8 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 66 | 144 |
| Fire reports | 104 | 57 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 14–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 87,429 mi | 79,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 105 | 1,502 |
| Structure | 87 | 486 |
| Suspension | 80 | 421 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 294 | 163 |
| Electrical System | 123 | 148 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 100 | 152 |
| Air Bags | 79 | 162 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 149 | 89 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 258 | 138 |
| Rust / corrosion | 90 | 47 |
| Airbag warning light | 40 | 66 |
| Loss of power | 31 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 24 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 23 | 77 |
| Brake problems | 23 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 20 | 61 |
2002 Ford Escape
2002 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Escape vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.